Motherboard (MOBO)

Motherboard (MOBO)Motherboard (MOBO)

CHAPTER 2

PCM Chapter 3: MOBO 1

Motherboard (MOBO)Motherboard (MOBO)A modern motherboard has several

components built into it. Most modern motherboards have at least the following major components.:◦ Processor socket/slot◦ Chipset◦ ROM BIOS◦ Memory sockets/slots◦ ISA, PCI/AGP slots◦ CPU voltage regulator◦ Battery◦ Some motherborards also include

integrated video, audio, networking, SCSI Audio Modem Riser (AMR) and etc.


Motherboard (MOBO)Motherboard (MOBO)




MOBO:Structure and MOBO:Structure and purposepurposeThe motherboard, more or less,

is your computer. It defines your computer type, upgradeability, and expansion capability

2 types of MOBO:Non-Integrated MotherboardsIntegrated Motherboards

Embedded Motherboards


The most common methods of configuring component on a MOBO is CMOS setup

Some MOBO used jumpers or DIP switches to adjust configuration settings


ChipsetChipsetChipset is a CPU support chips Determines motherboard main

characteristicswhat processors its supportswhat RAM typeswhat bus typesBus speeds its supportswhether it supports standards such as

AGP, PCI Express or USB 2.0


ChipsetsChipsetsThe chipset contains the processor bus

interface (called front-side bus, or FSB), memory controllers, bus con trollers, I/O controllers, and more.

In the PC, the chipset represents the connection between the processor and everything else. processor cannot talk to the memory, adapter boards, devices, and so on without going through the chipset.

The chipset is the main hub and central nervous system of the PC.

If you think of the processors as the brain, the chipset is the spine and central nervous system.


ChipsetsChipsets

Chipsets

North bridge (memory controller) and south bridge (I/O controller) connecting

different component together


Identifying chipsetIdentifying chipsetWhy?

To make upgrade decisions based on chipset, or troubleshooting PC fault,

How?ManualWindows Identification – System Device

Category in Device ManagerOnly if chipset driver installed properly

3rd party software – Smith Micro CheckIt, Linux LiveCD – Knoppix, SiSoft Sandra

Motherboard Type – usually branded motherboard


Mobo manualMobo manual


BUSBUSDefinition: BUS - a set of electronic signal

pathways that allows information and signals to travel between components inside or outside of a computer.

A computer's bus can be divided into two different types, Internal and External◦ The Internal Bus connects the different components

inside the case: The CPU, system memory, and all other components on the motherboard. It's also referred to as the System Bus.

◦ The External Bus connects the different external devices, peripherals, expansion slots, I/O ports and drive connections to the rest of the computer. In other words, the External Bus allows various devices to be added to the computer. It allows for the expansion of the computer's capabilities. It is generally slower than the system bus. Another name for the External Bus, is the Expansion Bus.


BUSBUS

There are dedicated pathways for system bus which are as folows:Data busAddress bus/Memory busControl bus

Topic on System Bus, we will discuss further in chapter 5.

There are also other Bus architectures developed overtime which we will discuss on the next slide.


Early bus architecture : Early bus architecture : ISAISA

Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) was the original PC bus

There are several attempts to improve or replace ISA which is as follows:◦MicroChannel Architecture (MCA) bus - incompatible with ISA and failed to catch on

◦Extended ISA (EISA) - not widely supported◦Video Electronics Standards Association

(VESA) local bus extension - extended the ISA slot to create a 32-bit, higher-speed bus PCM Chapter 3: MOBO 15

PCI bus : How it PCI bus : How it operates?operates?The Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) local bus design creates a main data highway between the processor and other devices.

PCI expansion cards are configured by the motherboard's PnP (plug 'n' play) system, allocating resources (IRQ, I/O address) automatically.


The PCI bus operates its own DMA controller, allowing large quantities of data to be transferred quickly between devices without the CPU's involvement.

The important thing about the PCI bus is that it is independent of the CPU's system bus; it can expand to accommodate new processor designs and new peripherals.


AGPAGPAccelerated Graphics Port (AGP) modified the

PCI bus design to handle the high data traffic associated with three-dimensional graphics. ◦ provides a 32-bit video channel that runs at 66MHz

in basic 1X video mode. ◦ supports three high-speed modes that include

2X (5.33 MBps), 4X (1.07 GBps), and 8X (2.1 GBps). AGP provides a direct channel between the

AGP graphic controller and the system's main memory, instead of using the expansion buses for video data.

This removes the video data traffic from the PCI buses. The speed provided by this direct link permits video data to be stored in system RAM instead of in special video memory.


AMR & CNRAMR & CNR

Audio Modem Risers (AMR) & Mobile Daughter Card (MDC) used to connect sounds cards and modems.

Replaced by a new design called the Communication and Networking Riser (CNR) card support for V.90 modems, multi-channel audio, telephone-based dial-up networking, USB devices, and 10/100 Ethernet-based LAN adapters.


PCI ExpressPCI ExpressPCI Express

(PCIe) is a major redesign that uses high-speed serial signaling arranged in lanes. This allows different sized cards to be used that may or may not require high-speed transfers.


PCI ExpressPCI ExpressAll PCI Express slots

must support x1 (single-lane) connections — so you can plug a x1 card into a x16 slot if necessary.

Smaller cards can be placed in larger slots (but larger cards cannot physically fit into smaller slots).


FORM FACTOR / FORM FACTOR / EVOLUTIONEVOLUTIONForm factors refers to the

physical dimensions and size of the boards and dictates what type of the case the board will fit into.

Its define the size, shape, and screw placement on a motherboard.


FORM FACTORFORM FACTOR

Obsolete Form Factors

Modern Form Form Factors

All Others

Baby AT Full-size AT LPX(semi

proprieatary)

ATX Micro-ATX Flex-ATX NLX WTX (no

longer in production)

Proprieatary design (Compaq, Packard Bell, HP etc)


Industry-Standard Industry-Standard Motherboard Form Motherboard Form Factors Factors Form Factor

Use

ATX Standard desktop, mini-tower, and full-tower systems; most common form factor today; most flexiible design for power users, enthusiasts, low-end servers/workstations, higher-end home systems; ATX boards support up to seven expansion slots.

Mini-ATX A slightly smaller version of ATX that fits into the same case as ATX. Many so-called ATX motherboards are actually Mini-ATX motherboards; Mini-ATX boards support up to six expansion slots

Micro-ATX Midrange desktop or mini-tower systemsFlex-ATX Least expensive or low-end small desktop or mini-tower

systems, entertainment or appliance systemsNLX Corporate desktop or mini-tower systems; fast and easy

serviceabilityWTX Mid- to high-end workstations, servers (withdrawn)


AT Power connectorAT Power connector


P8 P9

ATX Power connector ATX Power connector (20 pin)(20 pin)


P4 Power connector P4 Power connector (additional)(additional)


4 pin power connector

Documents

Motherboard (MOBO)